Flexible travel bag with stiffening means



April 3, 1956 DAVlS FLEXIBLE TRAVEL BAG WITH STIFFENING MEANS Filed Sept. 18, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

J0. a M M United States Paten'tO FLEXIBLE TRAVEL BAG WITH :STIFFENING MEANS Michael Davis, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Qrescent Products Co., New York, N. Y., a firm Application September 18, 1953, Serial No. 381,002

1 -Claim. (Cl. 190-'43') This invention relates to a travel bag primarily adapted for traveling in vehicles particularly automobiles and the like and in which garments may be carried in full length condition without wrinkling.

An object of the invention is to provide a travel bag of elongated formation which may be supported in depending relation and which may be folded into doubled over relation with the doubled over ends secured together to form a bag which may be conveniently carried.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a flexible bag of said character in which the outermost side wall of the bag is provided with stiffening means for supporting the bag in upright relation when in folded condition.

Still another object or" the invention is to provide a travel bag constructed of flexible material and having a stiff cross member located medially of the ends in the outer side wall thereof and with stiffening bars extending from said cross member to the opposite corners of the front wall on each side of said cross member for stiffening the opposite end portions of the bag for holding the bag in upright relation when in folded condition.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the bag when in suspended relation and showing the outer side wall thereof. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the inner side wall.

Fig. 3 is a side view showing the bag secured in doubled over relation for carrying.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the travel bag is of elongated formation and includes a flexible outer wall 10, a flexible inner wall 11 and narrow flexible top and bottom walls 12 and 13 and side walls 14 and 15. The end walls 12 and 13 and the side walls 14 and 15 are connected to the outer edges of the outer and inner walls and 11 to provide an elongated travel bag of narrow width to accommodate one or more garments in full length condition when suspended therein and which permits of the folding over of the travel bag medially of the length thereof to facilitate carrying of the bag.

A hanger 16 protrudes through the top wall 12 and is connected with the frame 17 for suspending the bag in depending relation from a hook, bar and the like, whereby the garments arranged therein are suspended from the frame without the necessity of folding the garments. The top wall 12 is also provided with straps 18 while the bottom wall 13 is provided with loops 19 for engagement by the straps 17 for securing the bag in doubled-over relation as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Intermediate the length of the outer wall 10, the bag is provided with 2 a handle .20 which may be swung.into upwardposition for carrying the "bag when in the doubled-ove'riormation.

The inner wall '11 includes a pane'l '21 whichlis .con- 'nected therewith at the bottom of the panel and separated therefrom along the side edges and over .the top .so as to provide means for gaining access to "the upper portion of the bag. The panel is adapted to'besecured'in closed relation by interengageable fastening means extending continuously about the opposite side edges and over the top :of the panel, :such as by aslide fastener 22. .A pocket :is also provided at the lower portion ofthe ibag to which access may be had by an opening 23 adjacent the bottom edge of the panel 21 and which is closed by interengageable fastening means such as the slide fastener In order that the travel bag when in doubled-over formation is retained against sagging due to the weight thereof and to prevent wrinkling or crushing of the garments therein, the outer and inner walls 10 and 11 are provided with rigid stiffening members 26 and 27 extending transversely thereof respectively. The stiffening member 26 extends completely across the outer wall 10 from the opposite longitudinal edges thereof intermediate the length of said wall. The stiffening member is secured in position by means of a ply 28 of leather and the like which is sewed to the top wall 10 by stitching 29 extending peripherally thereabout and through the outer wall. The handle 20 is secured to the stiffening member 26 so that the weight of the bag is on the stiffening member when the bag is carried in doubled-over relation. The stiffening member 27 extends from one side to the other of the panel 21 intermediate the length of the inner wall 11 and is narrower than the stiffening member 26. The stiffening member 27 is secured to the panel 21 by means of a ply 30 of leather or equivalent material which is sewed thereto by stitching 31 extending peripherally thereabout.

The outer wall 10 is also provided with stiffening members 32 and 33 above and below the stiffening member 26 which extend diagonally therefrom intermediate the length thereof to the opposite corners respectively. The stiffening members 32 and 33 on each side abut against the edges of the stiffening member 26 and on one side of the stiffening member 26, the stiffening members 32 and 33 extend to the top wall 12 and on the opposite side thereof extend to the bottom wall 13 to thereby stiffen the outer wall 10 and support the stiffening member 26 to retain the same in upward position and thereby prevent sagging thereof when the bag is in doubled-over formation. The stiffening members 32 and 33 are secured in position on the outer wall 10 by narrow plies 34 which extend the full length of said stiffening members and are secured to the outer wall 10 by stitching 35 so as to provide narrow pockets with said wall in which the stiffening members are arranged.

Constructed in this manner a travel bag is provided which may be suspended in full length depending relation from a carrying hook in the home or in vehicles and the like so as to maintain the garments in the bag in full length condition, or the bag may be doubled over and secured in doubled-over relation for carrying and when in the latter condition the bag may be disposed on a supporting surface and will remain in upright relation so as to avoid wrinkling of the garments therein.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be under stood that the invention is not so limited but shall cover and include any and all modifications thereof which 'fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A travel bag comprising flexible walls forming an elongated flexible container of narrow formation consisting of relatively long inner and outer walls, narrow end and side 3 walls between said inner and outer walls and connected to said inner and outer walls at the periphery thereof, said inner wail including a flap for gaining access to the bag, a hanger extending upwardly from one end wall for supporting the bag in full length depending relation, a stiff cross member extending transversely of the outer wall and secured thereto medially of the length thereof, stifi bars located on each side of said cross member and extending diagonally from said cross member substantially medially of the length thereof to the corners of said outer wall, narrow plies overlying said stiff bars, said narrow plies being sewed along each of their longitudinal edges to the outer wall for securing said stifi bars in position for stiffening said outer wall from said cross member to the corners 4 of the outer wall of the bag for preventing sagging of the bag when the same is folded over medially of the length thereof, and a handle secured to said cross member for carrying the bag when in folded over relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,403,476 Axelman Ian. 17, 1922 2,002,638 Lee et al., May 28, 1935 2,341,104 Kleber Feb. 8, 1944 2,596,412 Kish et al. May 13, 1952 2,627,952 Korehmar Feb. 10, 1953 2,662,619 Zweigbaum Dec. 15, 1953 2,689,631 Marks Sept. 21, 1954 

